Convicts are making a comeback in Mollywood

Of late, Mollywood has been gripped by cop movies with several A-listers queuing up to don the khaki and boots. But it’s not just the police that are making a comeback as movies with prisoners are in vogue too!
From Mathilukal and Kaalapani to Anwar and Munnariyippu, Malayalam movies have used prisons effectively to shape dramatic tales. This year alone has four films with stars such as Dileep and Dulquer Salmaan playing convicts.Here’s a list of movies that have our actors behind the bars:
Welcome to Central Jail
Dileep’s upcoming release, directed by Sunderdas, has him playing a Good Samaritan of sorts who takes on the blame of others and willingly undergoes jail terms. Its scribe Benny P Nayarambalam says, “There are a lot of innocent people who get charged for cases because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time. This story is about a man who bails out such people. However, he doesn’t cover for murders or rapes but petty cases that would get him a maximum of a six-month sentence.”
Kammattipadam
Director Rajeev Ravi’s movie chronicles the evolution of a gangster from a ghetto in Kochi. Dulquer plays the protagonist Krishnan and which gangster’s life is complete without a stint behind the bars? The actor had shot in Trivandrum Central Jail for a few portions as the character’s younger self in his lean avatar. From its latest trailer, it’s clear that Krishnan is not the kind who quietly serves his jail term as we get to see him go toe-to-toe with the other inmates.
Urumbukal Urangarilla
The thriller had Vinay Forrt, Chemban Vinod, Aju Varghese, Mustafa and Kalabhavan Shajon as prisoners. The film had Vinay Forrt’s character Manoj being trained under the tutelage of a master thief played by Chemban. The two eventually are apprehended and sent to jail. Once behind the bars, the duo along with other inmates hatches a plot to take revenge against another convict, who had murdered Manoj’s family.
Karinkunnam Sixes
The movie, directed by Deepu Karunakaran, presents the prisoners of Trivandrum Central Jail in a different light. It has its protagonist Manju Warrier playing a volleyball coach who trains a group of prison inmates in the sport, instilling confidence and team spirit among them. The elaborate cast of prisoners include Sudev Nair, Babu Anthony and Jacob Gregory.
Upcoming Indrajith-Biju Menon movie
The Jeethu Joseph-scripted movie is based on its director Ansar Khan’s State Award-winning telefilm Mukhamukham. Biju Menon and Indrajith play convicts who are being transported from Peermade to Ernakulam. “About 80 per cent of the film will be shot in the forest. The movie is primarily about the two prisoners and the entire story is weaved around their journey inside a forest,” Jeethu told us.